We
’re thrilled that the Valley Transportation Agency has
negotiated increased right-of-way on Union Pacific’s South County
lines. This has been a long, frustrating negotiation for the
transit agency and for Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Santa Clara County
officials.
We’re thrilled that the Valley Transportation Agency has negotiated increased right-of-way on Union Pacific’s South County lines. This has been a long, frustrating negotiation for the transit agency and for Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Santa Clara County officials.
But those same officials say that due to declining ridership, no new trains are in South County’s forseeable future.
Caltrain is a rare public transit success story. The service is embraced throughout the South Bay, and we think that the reason it’s been less than a spectacular success in South County is the extremely limited service.
We understand the difficult proposition faced by VTA officials – it’s hard to justify increasing service when the trains to South County aren’t full now. But if the reason the trains are empty is that the times they’re offered doesn’t meet South County’s needs, then let’s fix that problem.
We suggest a pilot program that adds a train or two at later times in the morning and evening that will attract riders who want to leave their South County homes at a reasonable hour.
However, there is a caution: This pilot program shouldn’t be handled in the shabby, half-hearted manner the ill-fated South County weekend Caltrain service pilot program of a few years ago that was never properly promoted.
This pilot should last at least a year – it takes people time to discover a new service and to change ingrained habits – and should be tweaked, not killed, if it does not meet expectations. If a 7:30am train has low numbers, don’t end it, change it to 7:45am instead.
A properly managed, well-advertised, fully supported pilot program could provide valuable data to VTA officials on the untapped demand for new trains in South County.
